Mobile recycling could see people enjoy Facebook discounts

Consumers in five European countries and Canada could be inspired to recycle their old mobile phones and invest in a smartphone so as to take advantage of Facebook’s shopping discount service.

Facebook Deals – which offers users money off in retail outlets – is being rolled out in Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Canada, although the programme will be available everywhere eventually.

Starbucks is one of the UK’s initial partners and will be offering free coffees to the first 30,000 customers using Facebook Places – which broadcasts people’s locations – to check in.

It is hoped that Deals will tempt more people to use the location-based service, as well as encourage a greater number to access the social network via their handsets.

Mazda is also participating, offering customers 20 per cent discounts on certain models, as well as giving away a Mazda MX-5 Miyako special edition to the person who checks in at one of their five designated forecourts.